When disaster strikes an airfield in the form of a fire, using Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) minimizes impacts to operations and allows the airfield to return to normal in the least amount of time possible. This creates a resilient solution to airfield disasters.
AFFFs contain the compounds perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These compounds are suitable for smothering and suppressing fires but are difficult to remove from the surrounding environment. Potential regulation could mean new challenges to building environmentally friendly operational resiliency plans that address fire emergencies.
FIGHTING FIRES WITHOUT DAMAGING THE ENVIRONMENT
In 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established non-enforceable and nonregulatory drinking water health advisories for two PFAS contained in AFFFs. In May 2018, the EPA hosted a National Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., to act on the question of how to handle PFAS in the environment.
The EPA’s and other regulatory agencies’ actions indicate future changes that could affect the aviation industry. For example, the EPA is considering designating certain PFAS as hazardous substances and establishing maximum contaminant levels. This would impact the storage, use and disposal of AFFF products at airports, affecting the ability of airports to plan for and manage fire disasters.